Merger grounds JAL's crane symbol

For close to half a century, a bright red crane with its wings spread majestically above its head was the symbol of Japan Airlines.

But the logo is about to go the way of the passenger pigeon and the dodo. Next month, with a swipe of a painter's spray gun, the last one will be gone from the tails of the company's aircraft.

JAL changed its logo after Japan Airlines Co. merged with Japan Air System Co. (JAS) in 2002. However, the crane logo is being phased out gradually. The process will be completed by late May.

Called Tsurumaru, the crane logo was created in 1959.

Before that, the logo consisted of the letters JAL stretched out to form wings. But when the airline moved from prop planes to jets, company officials decided a change was in order.

At first they wanted a logo with a modern design that expressed a sense of speed. However, in the end, a decision was reached to emphasize Japanese qualities.

The crane logo first appeared on a JAL jet in 1960. The first jet, dubbed Fuji, was a DC-8. On that aircraft, the crane symbol was placed on the fuselage slightly behind the cockpit. On the tail was a copy of the Japanese flag.

Many retired JAL employees are sorry to see the symbol go.

Shigeru Yoshida joined JAL when the company was established in 1951. At first, Yoshida, now 82, was posted at Haneda Airport cleaning aircraft and handling luggage.

"I felt a real sense of purpose working to put a plane in the sky at a time when the nation was still reeling from defeat in World War II," Yoshida said. "I thought the crane logo was a symbol not only for JAL, but for a Japan that was taking off."

In 1970, JAL entered the jumbo-jet era with aircraft capable of carrying about 500 people at a time.

The uniforms worn by flight attendants featured miniskirts designed by Hanae Mori. The flashy uniforms announced the start of the age of mass transport.

When JAL jets carried politicians and diplomats to events of historic significance--the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China and the return of Okinawa to Japan are two examples--the crane logo went with them.

As the firm's international routes expanded, Yoshida found himself assigned to work at JAL operations in Denmark, Britain and Italy. He reached retirement age while assigned to a branch in Seattle.

The crane symbol also had special meaning for Japanese who traveled abroad.

Kaisaku Sano, 78, was another member of the first cohort of JAL employees. Sano worked in sales in Singapore, Britain, the United States and Australia. Japanese businessmen posted overseas often told him they felt "relieved" when they saw the crane logo.

JAL was more than just an airline in the early days. With few escorted tours available, it was not uncommon for Japanese travelers to visit JAL operations abroad hoping to find a volunteer tour guide.

Hiroo Moroboshi, 77, who joined JAL in 1957, worked as a JAL pilot until 1991. He still recalls lights flashing over the crane symbol on one of the first flights to New York.

At that time, JAL was the only Japanese company that flew outside of Japan.

"I really felt proud," Moroboshi said. "I feel as though I have grown along with the crane symbol."

When JAL was privatized in 1987, there were some in the company who called for a new logo.

However, while endangered--as real cranes are in Japan--the logo survived until after the merger with JAS in 2002.

Painting over the logo has taken time because the work could only be done during major maintenance periods.

While at one time there were about 140 jets with the crane logo, there were only two left as of April 17.

Yoshida and Sano say they are both sad to see the symbol go. They now work as volunteers collecting and organizing historical items for a JAL facility at Haneda airport.(IHT/Asahi: April 18,2008)